William a



(No Model.)

W. A. ALRICH. GRAPPLE FOR BASKETS, &.

No. 507,056. Patented 0011.17, 1893.

@Ntra STATES WILLIAM A. ALRICH, OF PERRYMAN, MARYLAND.`

GRAPPLE FOR BASKETS, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,056, dated October 17, 1893.

Application filed April 8. 1893. Serial No. 469.568. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. ALRIoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Perryman, in the county of Harford and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Grapples for Baskets, dac., of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to grapples for peach baskets, boxes and other devices, and has for its object to provide an automatic self-adjusting and detachable .device of the class set forth which can be applied or detached with one hand, thereby adapting the same for the uses specified and producing convenient facilities for quickly and readily transporting a peach basket, box or other device from one position to another.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction and arrangement of the parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of a peach basket, showing thepreferred form of the improved grapple in operative connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the form of grapple shown by Fig. 1 disconnected and the parts thereof separated Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the grapple provided with a slight modification in the construction thereof. Fig. 4 is a similar view of a part of the grapple, showing a further modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l designates a pair of double arms that are preferably constructed of round wire that is properly curved longitudinally to accord the same the requisite shape, and connected at their outer ends by angularly inturned cross-bars 2, that form biting jaws. The inner ends of the said arms l surround the opposite sides of a bail-bar 3,having a wooden or analogous grip or handle 4 loosely mounted thereon. The said bail-bar 3 may terminate adjacent to the points of attachment of the inner ends of the arms 1 or be extended downwardly at right angles in the form of vertical arms 5 and project loosely through openings 6, in the opposite ends of a bridge-bar 7, located under and parallel with the bar 3 and grip or handle 4. The lower end of the vertical arm 5, on each side is headed, as at 8, and extending from opposite sides of the said bridge-bar at each end of the same are pairs of oppositely-projecting keeper-arms 9, that have upturned eyes lO, at the outer ends thereof that loosely embrace the arms l.

In operation the grip or handle 4 is held within the hand with the two middle fingers placed under the bridge-bar 7, to lift the latter upwardly toward the said grip. This lifts and spreads thev arms l so that they can be slipped over the top of the basket, and when so positioned the said bridge-bar is released and drops as far downwardly as the said arms l will permit, and at times engaged by the heads 8 of the vertical arms 5. This operation permits the arms l to drop by their own weight and grasp the opposite sides of the basket under the top band thereof by the grips or biting-jaws 2 that form convenient lips for this purpose. rlhe basket is then lifted and carried to its desired place, the eX- terior rim or band of the basket preventing the grips, jaws, or lips 2 from slipping upwardly and becoming disconnected from the basket. The middle fingers of the hand are caused to again raise the bridge-bar 7, and consequently elevate the arms l and release the same from the basket, when the same operation may be successively repeated as found desirable. The bridge or connecting piece is adapted to spread the arms for releasing them, and when the arms are drawn upward through the eyes of the bridge they are drawn inward into positive engagement with a basket or other receptacle. For certain purposes it may be found necessary to dispense with the vertical arms 5 of the bail-bar 3, and as the said vertical arms hold the bridge-bar 7 and its keeper-arms 9 in proper position relatively to the arms l, a substitute for the said vertical arms is provided by forming shoulders 1l in the arms 1 that will prevent the movement of the arms 9 beyond a predetermined central position relatively to the grip 4, and thereby accomplish the required purpose of the said parts and still retain the bridge-bar 7 in convenient grasping position under the grip 4r.

The improv ed device, as thus far described, has the cross-bars 2, forming the jaws or lips,

IOO

broadened and slightly sharpened, but preferably flattened to avoid the formation of a rounded engaging surface, as at 12, to insure a iirm engagement of the said jaws or lips with the under sides of the rim surrounding the top of the basket, and thereby obviate slipping of the ends of the arms olf of the basket.

The improved device may be also readily employed for lifting heavy boxes or boxes of any size and Weight, and in which event the arms will be correspondingly increased in length, if necessary, and the outer engaging jaws or lips of the arms 1, in this instance, are constructed with a series of engaging serrations or teeth, 13, as shown in Fig. 4, which provide for a firm biting action in the opposite sides of the box, as will be readily understood and appreciated.

The herein described device is exceptionally convenient in that two of the same may be readily applied at one and the same time by the hands of the operator, and two baskets or other devices be lifted and transported thereby. Potato baskets or other forms of containing receptacles for vegetables, &c., may be engaged by the grapple, as the same is intend' ed to be used for any purpose found desirable and to which it may be applicable.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the principle or sacricing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a grapple for baskets, &c., the combination of a pair of arms adapted to engage a basket between their lower ends, a grip or handle connected to the arms, and a bridge provided with eyes loosely receiving the arms at opposite sides of the grip or handle, whereby the arms may be spread or contracted, substantially as described.

2. In a grapple for baskets, dro., the combination of oppositely disposed engaging arms, a grip or handle connected with the arms, and a bridge loosely receiving the arms at opposite sides of the grip or handle and adapted to permit the arms to slide through it to spread and contract them, and means for limiting the movement of the arms on the bridge, substantially as described.

y 3. In a grapple for baskets, dac., the combination of oppositely-disposed engaging arms having outer intnrned ends forming lips or jaws, a bail-bar to which the inner ends ot' said arms are movably connected and provided with vertical depending arms at opposite ends thereof, a grip movably mounted on said bailbar, and a bridge-bar having openingsin the opposite en ds thereof through which said vertical arms loosely extend, and also provided with oppositely-projecting keeper arms having upturned ends formed as eyes that loosely engage the first-mentioned arms, substantially as described.

4. In a grapple for baskets, &c., the combination of the opposite downwardly extending arms composed of parellel sides, a grip or handle connected to the arms at the upper ends thereof, and a bridge arranged beneath the grip or handle and extending on opposite sides of the same and provided at each side of the handle or grip with a pair of eyes to receive the sides of the adjacent arms, substantially as described.

5. In a grapple for baskets, duc., the combination of the continued bowed arms 1 composed of parallel sides and terminating at their outer ends in jaws, a grip or handle connected with the arms at the centers thereof and extending across the space between their sides, a rectangular bridge or connection located below the handle and extending on opposite sides thereof and provided with eyes loosely receiving the sides of the arms and permitting the said sides to move through them, and arms 9 connected With the said arms 1 and loosely mounted on the bridge or connection and limiting the movement of the sides of the arms 1 in said eyes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

W. A. ALRICH.

Witnesses:

J. H. SIGGERS, CHARLES S. HYER. 

